Sundog

Thanks for the encouragement!

I know you weren't being critical. I was just enthusiastically stating my point! B) I actually tend to agree with your main point about exploring an artists catalog. About a month ago, I decided to really concentrate on learning compositions by some of my favorite artists like, Ellington/Strayhorn, Monk, and Rollins. I actually now have two Monk songs under my belt! Blue Monk and In Walked Bud. Also, now know Alfie's Theme. I've never heard either of these two songs played in these parts. I'm looking forward to being the first. If I can turn on one person to Monk or Rollins that would be great. Hell, if people tap their foot I'm happy!

Blue Monk is a bit overplayed (guilty B) ). But it's a nice entry point into Monk's music for both listeners and musicians. As a matter of fact, it's the first Monk tune I ever learned. One has to start somewhere! To keep things interesting I like to segue from Blue Monk into Gooden's Corner or vice versa. That usually puts a nice twist on the proceedings. If you really want to mess with people, try having two soloists play both melodies simultaneouly. Now that's hip, and it actually works!

It don't mean a thing.... B)

Just heard the Shorty Rodgers Big Band doing the Nut Cracker Suite. A fine holiday listen!

I got the Sonny Stitt last year for XMAS. I don't think you'll be disappointed. As for me, I want the Gerald Wilson box. Just discovered him with his latest album. Mosaic seems to be the best way to go for his earlier work. Also, want the Duke Pearson Select.

There's a great version of Caravan on a compilation album called Swing West Volume 2 Guitar Slingers (Razor Tie). The version is credited to Ferlin Husky. However, it's really just the studio backing band fooling around in between takes. Unfortunately none of the artists are credited. However, the steel player is probably Curly Chalker. The guitar player had obviously been listening to Charlie Christian (not that his playing was derivative) great stuff! There's also a very fine version of the Benny Goodman/Charlie Christian song A Smooth One by Roy Lanham. If you love guitar music check this one out! It's full of "West Coast" style country. Cross-pollination is alive and well! The Brian Setzer Orchestra did a killer version of Caravan a few years ago that won a grammy.

May I suggest the version of Caravan from Kenny Burrell's Ellington Is Forever Vol. 1. Nothing uninspired about that reading. For me it's got to be Autumn Leaves. Been there done that! Of course the one exception is Miles' and Cannonball's version from Something Else.

Any rockabilly tune must be played loud for maximum enjoyment!

There's a nice version of White Christmas on the Conn. of Booker Ervin's Structurally Sound.

Cannonball's Mercy, Mercy, Mercy kicks ass! That band is so tight. Fun & Games stand out for me as well crafted blowing vehicles, that I actually like more than the title track. I've listened to this album 15-20 times in the last 6 months and I'm nowhere close to being sick of it. A stone classic Soul Jazz date. Ray Charles anyone?

Playing Lou Donaldson's "Everything I Play Gonna Be Funky" extremely loud as I type this message.

The Derek Trucks Band is a very, very interesting band. Derek trucks is a "jazzman" in a "jamband". Highly recommended!

Superfly!

Better Late Than Never. In no particular order... - Love to hear you guys take a stab at "Wee Dot" - How about "Take Five"? That song needs a funk treatment, and you guys are just the ones to do it! - Sister Sadie? - Always enjoy hearing the ballad "My Ship". Perhaps even a vocal? Looking forward to hearing the results!

I think it depends on the vintage of the recording and other factors when judging whether mono or stereo sounds better. Cannonball's "Something Else" sounds great in mono. As a rule of thumb, I would buy the album in the format it was originally released in.

Claude Thornhill's "Snowfall" is a really beautiful song. Always gets heavy rotation around the holidays.

If you haven't all ready, you should check out the latest incarnation of the ABB. Their latest DVD "Live At The Beacon Theatre" is quite good. Just came out about 2 weeks ago. Dereks Trucks and Warren Haynes are great players who play together wonderfully. They really embody the spirit of the original guitar line up. Of course, there not the same players as Duane and Dickey but they are both full of surprises, and always impress. Gregg of course is in fine form. This latest band is really something to see and hear. Also highly recomended, The Derek Trucks Band album "Joyful Noise" which is a surprisingly coherent album with latin, gospel, jazz, blues, and world music influences. I'm glad to see that there are some ABB fans on this board. They are one of the very few non-jazz bands/artists I listen to on a regular basis. I've got this hair-brained theory that Derek Trucks might be an artist that really helps popularize jazz again. This guy is something special. He regularly quotes Shorter and Coltrane in his solos! He's not your average slide player in a blues-based rock band. Mark my words!!!!!

Thanks for the information. Norton does have an eccentric rooster of artists don't they?

I'm a Cecil Payne man myself. How often did Johnny Griffin play Baritone? He plays it incredibly, on Ira Sullivan's Blue Stroll album.

I find one of the most interesting times in jazz to be the transition from more traditonal jazz forms to bebop. Lots of interesting musical experiments were going on at the time. I'm not sure how this fits into your list? Probably straddles a couple of choices on the list.

Anybody ever do business with Norton Records? They have a number of Gene Vincent releases on vinyl that look intriguing. Wondering about the quality of the pressings and service in general? P.S. Thanks for the new forum!

Death, taxes, and vinyl!

You ain't lived yet! B)

Most of the CD transfers I've heard of the Allman Brothers are atrocious. The best live recording I've heard is the vinyl version of Live At The Fillmore. I have a vintage version, however, I noticed that Classic Records (I think it was Classic Records?) has just released this on 200g vinyl. Do yourself a favor, check this one out on vinyl. The difference is night and day, over the very best CD remaster.